Transaction Services News

Seaspan Corporation announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Greater China Intermodal Investments LLC and Blue Water Commerce, LLC to extend the term of their Right of First Refusal Agreement by one year to March 31, 2016. GCI is Seaspan's investment partnership established with an affiliate of global asset manager The Carlyle Group and others, including affiliates of Seaspan's director Graham Porter and of its largest shareholder, Dennis R. Washington. Under the ROFR Agreement and subject to its terms, Seaspan has a right of first refusal in respect of containership investment opportunities identified by GCI, as well as a right of first offer in respect of certain proposed containership sales by GCI.

BHP Billiton, Royal Bank of Scotland, Westpac Banking Corporation, Cargill and Minerva Marine recently completed the first trade financed iron ore trade using ESS’s CargoDocs electronic bill of lading and eUCP Presentation solutions. CargoDocs was used on a shipment from Australia to China. In this trade the electronic bill of lading was drafted by BHP Billiton in Shanghai (eliminating the need for separate document instructions). It was then approved signed and issued on behalf of Minerva Marine by Wilhelmsen Ships Services in Port Hedland, Australia. BHP Billiton created original electronic peripheral documents within CargoDocs and the whole eSet was endorsed and presented electronically to RBS under an eUCP600 letter of credit.

Brynjar Gevelt, who brings with him 14 years in the maritime software and service arena, has been appointed CEO of Marine Transaction Services (MTS). Gevelt's experience includes Corporate Software Development Manager in Marinor Shipping and Offshore Services AS, Technology Director Visma Marine AS (Spectec), and the last three years as Director of products and projects in MTS. The company has added to its product development department with Roger Werner Laug who comes from IT consulting company Tieto Enator where he specialized in the maritime industry.

Much as has transpired in mainstream consumer markets, the dot com craze has recently enveloped the maritime world with promises of cost savings and operational efficiencies. While an attrition and natural process of consolidation can eventually be expected, the world of e-commerce solutions for the maritime market is definitely in its infancy. While it is impossible to judge the full working models in this report, the following text contains synopsis reports on some of the more noteworthy market entrants. Recently launched by Boston-based WebPark Corp., Boat-Park.com is an on-line virtual trade show, which seeks to bring together worldwide participants into its virtual trade show, which is open 24/7.

The China Navigation Co. Ltd. (CNCo), the Hong Kong based deep-sea shipping arm of John Swire & Sons Ltd, has signed a 5-year contract with Marine Transaction Services AS (MTS). The relationship between CNCo and MTS goes back to 2003 when CNCo engaged MTS as its e-commerce provider. Implementation of the MTS e-business solution was comprehensive but very successful. All elements related to streamlining the business processes and workflows and strengthening business relationships were part of the implementation in order to meet the expectations of taking cost out of the supply chain. This is a key focus for MTS. Martin Cresswell, Director and General Manager Fleet of CNCo says: “I am very pleased with MTS and the results achieved so far. CNCo will continue to use MTS.”

Marine Transaction Services (MTS), provider of second generation e-commerce solutions for the marine market and the international cruise company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) continue their cooperation and have signed a 5 year contract. RCL have been using MTS e-business services since a successful trial period were completed in the end of October last year and have obtained good experience in how to utilise the system in order to take full advantage of its possibilities. The number of transactions RCL processes through MTS for its 29 vessels is constantly increasing and during next year they expect that the number will reach approximately 100.000 transactions. Within the range of the contract MTS provides RCL with the product BuyerLink Advanced.

Star Information Systems (SIS) and Marine Transaction Services (MTS) of Oslo, Norway, announce the development of a global business-to-business (B2B) software and e-commerce solution for the shipping industry. “MTS and SIS offer true B2B integration. MTS’s expertise in e-commerce for primary marine vendors was a major determining factor for SIS entering into this collaboration. The two companies have worked professionally together for the past two years” said Leif Tusvik, head of department SISCommerce. Under the new cooperation agreement, MTS will integrate marine vendors existing ERP/back office systems with ship owners and operators currently utilising SISCommerce software.

Part of the curse of corporate consolidation comes in the combining of or complete re-naming of the new entity. The quandary: maintaining critical market awareness of individual brands while adequately communicating the entirety of the new organization's capabilities. Such was the problem facing the new company comprised of Station 12, Telstra Global Satellite and SpecTec. The Netherlands-based Station 12 has been one of the acquisition leaders on the satellite communication fronts, a role that the newly named company — Xantic — promises to continue. "Future consolidation is coming, as margins are (still) very tight, and there is the need to drive volume very high," said Rune Martini, Xantic's vice president of the Americas and Northern Europe.

Known as mE-World, BT launched this innovative PC-based e-commerce environment for the merchant marine industry at the Europort Exhibition this past November. Mobile electronic world (mE-World) puts a powerful suite of information, messaging, tracking and transaction services readily available with the click of a computer mouse. In response to ever-changing situations within the competitive merchant marine industry, the comprehensively developed mE-World carries all the essential data and tools combined in the user's PC or laptop, thus improving the quality, speed and commercial outcomes of the management process. The front-end to mE-World is an additional development - a full-time desktop - mE-Desk…

SeaSupplier Ltd (SSL), the marine e-procurement unit of Stolt-Nielsen S.A., and Marine Transaction Services AS (MTS), a provider of second generation e-commerce solutions for the marine market, announced today the joint development of a new e-commerce interface between the parties, with the capability to fully automate the marine e-procurement process. The agreement links SeaSuppliers' shipping customers, including Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group, Sea Bulk International, BP Shipping and Teekay Shipping - with the leading marine suppliers served by MTS - including Alfa Laval, Jotun, Unitor and Wärtsilä Corporation. "Through this collaboration…

Marine Transaction Services (MTS), a leading provider of second generation e-business solutions, has recently secured a contract with Bergesen Worldwide Gas ASA (BW Gas), formerly Bergesen d.y. ASA. The agreement comprises MTS’ product Buyerlink, which provides BW Gas with access to MTS’ integrated trading network, as well as Electronic Invoicing. MTS has for the past 3 years delivered one-2-one connectivity services to BW Gas. This contract marks BW Gas’ transition to full-scale MTS customer. “This is a natural progression towards a fully electronically supported supply chain for BW Gas. With the increased process speed and quality MTS’ services offer, we are truly moving costs out of our value chain, states Tor-Egil Gjulem, Purchasing Manager of BW Gas.